Erythrocyte osmotic fragility in protein-energy malutrition: Cholesterol, phospholipid, and Ca 2+, Mg 2+ adenosine triphosphatase

Abstract

Erythrocytes from children suffering from protein-energy malnutrition (kwashiorkor) are shown to have increased resistance to osmotic lysis. Cholesterol as well as phospholipid in the erythrocyte membranes of children suffering from kwashiorkor were significantly higher as compared to those in controls. The molar ratio of cholesterol:phospholipid was lowered by 23% in these subjects ( P < 0.01). The specific activity of Ca 2+, Mg 2+-ATPase was decreased by about 50% in children suffering from kwashiorkor ( P < 0.001). In a relationship between the median corpuscular fragility of erythrocytes, the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio, and Ca 2+, Mg 2+-ATPase, the possibility is raised of an accumulation of intracellular Ca 2+ as a factor responsible for increased resistance of these cells to osmotic lysis in protein-energy malnutrition.